No one is really "lost"!!

Submitted by Karnamrita on Sun, 2007-12-23 21:06

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This topic came from a verse and 2 of Prabhupada's purports in the Shrimad Bhagavatam 3rd Canto, chapter 27, texts 15 and 16."The living entity can vividly feel his existence as the seer, but because of the disappearance of the ego during the state of deep sleep, he falsely takes himself to be lost, like a man who has lost his fortune and feels distressed, thinking of himself to be lost."

In his explanation Prabhupada states that thinking we are lost comes from ignorance of our spiritual identity and identifying with our material situation. It is like a person who loses his money but feels himself lost (he still remains but so identifies with the money as himself that he feels overwhelmed and lost).

I find it interesting in thinking about this point that it is often our feeling of being lost in the material world that leads us to search out Krishna.

I remember the feeling of aloneness I used to feel before I was a devotee and began my spiritual quest. After high school I had an important relationship that was to propel me out of my home, out of the normal educational and occupational tract, (and out of my mind!!) to be conscious for the first time of the missing spiritual dimension of my life. The world seemed very big, dark and impersonal. I gradually felt very alone and yes, lost. There seemed no meaning, a pointless existence.

I relate to the Christian song about how "I was once lost but now am found". If in our material life we believe everything is fine and we are happy then there will be no impetus for our taking up a spiritual path. We may be officially "religious", but only---at best---as a pious person with no burning desire for transcendence, or to understand ourself as more than a material body, or God as more than our "order-supplier". If we really believe in God, it will be in some distant way, and not as the center and purpose of our life.

A devotee is a person painfully aware of the suffering of life, who seeks a spiritual solution, and is attracted to the idea of serving Krishna when they hear about it. Devotees are thoughtful persons who have important questions that can only be answered in the Bhakti literature. This means that awakening devotees have a background in Bhakti from previously lives that gives them a psychology which naturally attracts them to Krishna. (see Bhagavad-gita 6th chapter vs 37-45). Such upcoming devotees just have to be in the right environment to again take up devotional service. It is like a seed in winter that is just waiting for the corrrect conditions in spring to grow and share its' special gift to the world.

So feeling lost is a case of mistaken identity, yet that feeling can lead a forgetful devotee to again take up their devotional practices and never feel lost or alone again. I can't say that I "see" Krishna or remember him at every moment, yet I can say that I never feel alone and I have a deep conviction for the spiritual direction of my life. I am generally optimistic about my progressive path to Krishna, and I seek out advanced devotees who have a mature, positive and deep understanding of KC.

If we are feeling lost in our life then we have to find our home. When we have found the path to our real home and eagerly walk it our life changes. ("As they surrender unto me I reward them accordingly." BG 4.11) We will find much support from others also walking on that path.

Association of devotees is meant to help us climb the mountains, ford the rivers, and even the deserts on our progressive, yet often zig-zag path back to the Lord of our hearts, Shri Krishna and his associates---out eternal family, our eternal home. We will come to know that on the path to Krishna we are never lost, but have found the way to nurture out heart and the hankering of our soul.

you're so right! sometimes we have to lose before we can win. in my case, my false ego had to be totally destroyed before i could admit complete and utter failure...and cry out for help, from the bottom of my heart. and, of course, My Sweet Lord, the Supersoul, was there...ALWAYS there...to respond to any sincere plea. and i literally devoured the first three Krsna books, i found on a shelf somewhere. now my life is His. and i have to work hard to make my way back home. and i fall a lot. but it's been my experience that he never, never, EVER abandons us. so, in a sense, i feel like we are never lost...only waiting to be found. and thanks to the inconceivabe mercy of Srila Prabhupad, he has flooded the world with devotees like you, who stand ready to catch us. please accept my humble obeisences! Hare Krishna!

Mon, 12/24/2007 - 06:58 — Dhama Rupini
Thanks ever so much for

Thanks ever so much for posting such a pertinent post, "No one is really lost."
I agree with you on not seeing Krsna as an order-supplier.
It is imperative to engage in devotional service, as humans living in a world filled of distractions we sometimes falter. However if we seriously apply Srila Prabhupada's teachings and Bhagavad Gita to our lives then no one can really feel lost. When we do in fact feel lost we must remind ourselves about these teachings or simply chant.We must strive to foster a deep personal relationship with Krsna and then that lost, empty feeling will be replaced with a love for Krsna.
I'll just like to endorse all you've said as being critical to fostering a deeper relationship with Krsna: engaging in devotional service and association with experienced devotees.
One can never really feel lost if we ponder on Bhagavad Gita.
" Those who follow the imperishable path of devotional service and who completely engage themselves with faith, making Me the Supreme goal are very, very dear to Me." (BG: 12.20).
"Just fix your mind upon Me, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and engage all your intelligence in Me. Thus you will live in Me always without a doubt." (BG 12.8)
It is critical being Krsna conscious that we engage in Harinam and fulfil Lord Caitanya's mission, "nama sankirtana", chanting Krsna's transcendental names. In this way we can help mankind and ourselves who sometimes feel lost by awakening mankind's dormant consciousness.
Thanks once more for your beautiful post. It made me reflect immensely.
May Krsna bless you
Hare Krsna
Julia

*Reply*

Mon, 12/24/2007 - 07:27 — Karnamrita.das
Reflecting immensely

Hi Julia!! It sounds like your reflections are right on the mark. We have to remind our selves who we truly are and what destination we should aspire and work toward. The more Krishna conscious we are the more we will be able to give and help others. Life is about giving on all levels. Krishna consciousness is really inclusive and includes everything. We have to become that which we are trying to give others, and know where we are on the path. So compassion for the soul includes compassion and knowledge of the soul's material predicament.